Fire support officer contributes to success of Yudh Abhyas 2013

1 / 1Show Caption +Hide Caption –1st Lt. Kunal D. Desai, a fire support officer in the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team talks to an officer from the Indian Army, May 5, 2013, during Yudh Abhyas, a bilateral annual training event between the Indian Army and United States Army Pacific, held for the first time at Fort Bragg, N.C. Desai, a native of India, assisted with the training, which was designed to improve the ability of the forces involved to respond to a wide range of contingencies. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod)VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- When 1st Lt. Kunal D. Desai found out that the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team was selected to participate in the U.S. Army Pacific sponsored Yudh Abhyas 2013--an annual bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Indian armies--he knew he'd be a key player contributing to the success of the mission here.

Not only would Desai be able to share his knowledge about the U.S. Army he gained from attending officer candidate school and from a combat deployment in Afghanistan, but he'd be able to relate to the visiting Indian officers in ways his colleagues might not be able to.

The fire support officer for 1st BCT's 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment was born in a small town outside Mumbai, India. While he has assimilated in American society in the more than 15 years he has spent away from his native land, he said he still speaks Hindi and holds fast to important facets of his culture.

"I'm Indo-American," Desai said. "I may be a little more liberal than I was before but I still have a mix of Indian and American values; what's good in American culture, I take from it and what's good in Indian culture, I take from it and [I] apply it to myself."

Desai said his participation in YA began long before the Indian soldiers and paratroopers from the 99th Mountain Brigade set foot here on May 1. There were documents to translate and cultural awareness classes to prepare. The officer said he was also tapped to wear "a lot of hats" throughout the exercise in the tactical operations center and field settings.

"It's been a good experience," he said. "I've learned quite a bit. We've taken but we've also given back in joint cooperation."

Desai said from his perspective the American and Indian forces developed a solid relationship in two-week's time--a partnership he hopes will continue between 1st BCT and the Indian army in the years to come.

"This type of exercise will continue to happen," he said. "We're building onto a future partnership [and] a better relationship … that will just bring the two countries together."